Facing reality of Alzheimer's

Facing reality of Alzheimer's

Lauren Gilhula, Special to the Times

From left Carol Tremblay, Lori Distel, and Joanne Priebe are three sisters who must deal with the reality of their father’s disintegration into Alzheimer’s disease in Galt Little Theatre’s production of Taking Leave. It runs Feb. 8, 9 and Feb. 15, 16 at 8 p.m. (plus a 2 p.m. matinee Feb. 10) at Cambridge Arts Theatre, 47 Water St. S. For tickets, call 519-623-4070 or www.galtlittletheatre.org

There’s a plague invading this planet. It is tasteless, odourless and merciless. It tends to hit the most vulnerable in our society and impacts everyone that comes in contact with it.

It’s known as Alzheimer’s disease. It takes away dignity, a person’s history and can easily put a wedge between family members.

In Galt Little Theatre’s production of Taking Leave, three sisters must deal with the cruel fate of their father who is battling Alzheimer’s disease and is on the edge of disappearing completely.

Directed by Jane McWilliams, the play centres around Eliot Pryne ... Prof. Eliot Pryne ... a teacher of literature, author and mentor who is losing it all to Alzheimer’s disease. Stephen Welch (always a standout in any production) plays Eliot with a sense of frustration, confusion, and rage. Eliot knows what he’s talking about, but he can’t get the words out, he can’t remember what the words mean, but somehow knows that he once understood.

Welch’s role requires him to be laughing at one moment, crying the next and screaming at the top of his lungs a second later. Welch also has the ability to isolate his character. He might be sitting in a room with his family, but he is removed from conversation.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Taking Leave is that its secondary story line tends to be the strongest – the relationship among three sisters trying come to terms with their father’s heartbreaking disease.

Carol Tremblay’s character Alma means well and has a heart of gold. Unfortunately, she has trouble following through on he plans (even staying overnight at her father’s house to keep an eye on him). She has surrendered to a life of normalcy and has given up on ever meeting her soulmate.

Lori Distel plays Liz, a second-rate, B-movie actress who is successful enough to believe she can call the shots when it comes to caring for her father. With a slight diva complex, she quickly learns that perhaps her sisters aren’t the complete flakes she may have thought they were.

However, the biggest transition in Taking Leave is Joanne Priebe as Cordelia, the baby of the family, who has never found direction or purpose. She takes too many pills, consumes too much booze and, like her father, is also on the verge of disappearing altogether.

Priebe portrays a vulnerable soul who must face her demons or perish.

While the first act is slow in parts, the second act revs up as the three sisters make changes in their own lives in order to do what’s best for dad.

Standout secondary roles include Cathy Judd as Mrs. Fleming, Eliot’s nurse and housekeeper. She might be a caregiver, but in some ways she is closer to Eliot than the three daughters could ever be.

Mike Rochford portrays Eliot’s better self, the version of Eliot before he got the disease and a constant reminder that Eliot’s countdown has begun. Rochford is always on stage, sitting in a corner and waiting for the physical Eliot to disintegrate.

Taking Leave is a character study into family relationships when a crisis presents itself.

For anyone who is dealing or has dealt with Alzheimer’s disease, Taking Leave shows its devastating impact on family.